Hydrogen
Applications Filed for German Hydrogen “Autobahns”
Germany’s 16 natural gas transmissions systems operators have requested approval for nearly 10,000 kilometers of lines to distribute green hydrogen as an energy carrier.
Jul 24, 2024
Applications for 9666 kilometers of new and repurposed connections have been filed with the responsible government authority, the Federal Network Agency. Pending approval work on the massive infrastructure project could commence in a few months’ time.
“The Hydrogen Core Network is a crucial step in the creation of hydrogen infrastructure,” said German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck in a statement. “It includes the ‘Autobahns’ of the hydrogen network…As of this fall, after the Federal Network Agency approves the application, the plans can be quickly and comprehensively realized – so that hydrogen is available wherever it’s needed, particularly for the decarbonization of industry.”
“Hydrogen is the ideal connector between the electricity, mobility and heating sectors and can be stored with relative ease,” added Germany Trade & Invest hydrogen expert Heiko Staubitz. “The German government is seeking to broaden the basis of energy provision in the country in its attempt to become independent of fossil fuels.”
The estimated costs of the infrastructure, according to operators, will be nearly EUR 20 billion. And the German government wants to see it completed sooner rather than later.
“German law says that this network has to be built by 2037 at the very latest,” Philipp Ginsberg from the German Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) told the Germany Trade & Invest podcast Into Germany. “However, the transfer transmission system operators want to finish this core network by 2032. So this means that in eight years from now, this network should be operating.”
The Hydrogen Core Network has been classified as an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI).
“We have a total of 17 border crossing points,” explained Niko Bosnjak, head of policy and communications at the operator Open Grid Europe. “We're connected from Denmark to Norway to the Netherlands, and we're connected to Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria and then the Czech Republic. So we're really positioned at the heart of Europe.”
